Hibiscus plant named ‘HJ-116’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘HJ-116’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit when pinched; relatively large leaves; large pale yellow-colored flowers with red-colored centers; and long flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HJ-116’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HJ-116’.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Hibiscus cultivars that flower early and have long flower longevity.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in November, 2002, of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Byron Metts, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Hibiscus rosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number HJ-136, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar HJ-116 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in October, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada since October, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar HJ-116 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HJ-116’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HJ-116’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit when pinched.     -   3. Relatively large leaves.     -   4. Large pale yellow-colored flowers with red-colored centers.     -   5. Long flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Byron Metts. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the cultivar Byron Metts in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller and lighter         green-colored leaves than plants of the cultivar Byron Metts.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants         of the cultivar Byron Metts.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar Byron Metts         differ in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar Byron         Metts have solid white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, the proprietary Hibiscus selection code number HJ-136. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection         differ in flower coloration as plants of the male parent         selection have white and purple-colored flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus have longer lasting flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Coconut Cream, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus had leaves with obtuse bases and         crenate margins whereas plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream had         leaves with cordate bases and weakly crenate margins.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had longer leaf petioles than         plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus had less undulating petal margins         than plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar         Coconut Cream differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar         Coconut Cream did not have red-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘HJ-116’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘HJ-116’ (left) and ‘Coconut Cream’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in containers in polyethylene-covered greenhouses under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 20° C. to about 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 18° C. to about 21° C. Plants were about ten months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar HJ-116. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar             Byron Metts, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis designated as code number HJ-136, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks.         -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat outwardly             spreading plant habit. Moderately vigorous growth habit.             Branching habit: Freely branching, usually about three to             four lateral branches develop after pinching (removal of             terminal apex).         -   Plant height.—About 46.6 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 35 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Texture.—Immature, sparsely pubescent; mature, woody and             rough.         -   Color, immature.—143C.         -   Color, mature.—197C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Length.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 9.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to bluntly acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate; undulating.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly rugose.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 146B. Mature foliage, upper surface:             Close to 139A; venation, similar to lamina. Mature foliage,             lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, similar to lamina.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: 137A. Color, lower surface: 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf             axils. Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about             three or four flower buds and/or open flowers per terminal             apex. Flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Flowering appearance.—Rounded, pale yellow-colored flowers             with red-colored centers.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers are long lasting, lasting for             about two to six days. Flowers persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or             during periods of warm weather.         -   Flower diameter.—About 17.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 11 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 8.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 cm.             Shape: Elliptic. Color: 151D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five imbricate             petals. Length: About 10.2 cm. Width: About 9.4 cm. Shape:             Spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;             moderately undulate; ruffled appearance. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, satiny. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the apex,             5D to 4D; mid-section, close to 155A; towards the base, 46B             to 45C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 155B; towards the base, blushed with 46B to 45C.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped             calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 1 cm to             1.5 cm. Shape: Deltoid to ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper surface: 144B. Color, lower surface: 144A to             144B.         -   Bracts.—Appearance: About seven or eight fused at base.             Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Linear.             Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 60. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close             to 155A. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About             1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 15B. Amount of pollen:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 15B. Gynoecium: Pistil             length: About 10.5 cm. Style length: About 10 cm. Style             texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Towards the apex, close             to 4D; towards the base, tinted with close to 45B. Stigma             appearance: Five, rounded. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma color: 14B. Ovary color: Close to 154D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     shown to be tolerant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus. 

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘HJ-116’ as illustrated and described. 